2017 Incredible Edibles

Gardening Organically Since 1983

518 Forest Road (Rte. 22), Northford, CT 06472 203-484-2748 www.naturework.com

Retail Store Opening for the Season March 20th

Welcome to Natureworks’ 2017 Incredible Edibles list. Once again we’ve selected vegetable varieties

to inspire you to grow your own healthy, organic dream garden. You’ll find old-time favorites such as

Brandywine and Mortgage Lifter tomatoes and new, smaller growing types that are ideal for container

gardens. All our vegetable seedlings are grown organically by our suppliers and stocked fresh each

week. In addition, Natureworks is your place to shop for composts, fertilizers, mulches and OMRI

certified pest control products. Your vegetable garden provides nourishment to yourself and your

family, we are so honored to be your chosen source for diverse, organically grown vegetables. Our

on-staff veggie experts can help your veggie dream garden become a reality.

This year, we’re excited to change things up by providing early notification when veggies

arrive without the hassle of a pre-order. No more filling out forms and leaving deposits.

Fruits like blueberries, raspberries, figs, elderberries (and more!) are always available throughout the

growing season. Visit our benches to find the perfect size and variety for your garden this year.

Dream on!

Natureworks Incredible Edibles 2017

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Early Spring Cold Crops

Organic Asparagus Roots Plant asparagus in a permanent location since beds can be productive for 15–20 years. Asparagus prefer loose, fertile, composted neutral pH soil. Jersey King is considered one of the best varieties for the home garden. Plants are vigorous and disease resistant.

Organic Seed Potatoes Cherry Red- mid-season. A preferred choice for gourmet baby new potatoes. Bright red smooth skin and snow-white flesh. German Butterball- late season. Round shaped all-purpose russet potato. Has a buttery flavor and flaky texture. Excellent for winter storage. Purple Majesty- mid-season. The deep violet color of these potatoes comes from antioxidant powers that are also found in blueberries. Tastes just like a regular potato. Russian Banana- mid-late season. Rose-blushed beige skin and deep yellow

flesh. The tubers will set high on the soil surface, so hill well to avoid greening. Yukon Gold - early season. A cross between a North American white potato and a wild South American yellow-fleshed one. A superb spud for soups and chowders, roasting and sautéing.

NEW Cal White- mid-season. Produces

an exceptionally high yield of oblong, white-skinned tubers with minimal exterior imperfections. Blue Belle- mid-season. Yellow potato with purple eyeshadow over its eyes! Resistant to powdery scab, splitting and silver scurf.

Eggplant Black Beauty- 70 days. Large, drop-shaped fruit are perfect for slicing. Orient Express- 75 days. Slender, 8’10”, glossy black fruits in the long Oriental style. Tender, delicately flavored, and quick cooking. Rosa Bianca- 73 days. Light pink fruits streaked with white and violet. Mild, creamy taste with no bitterness and few seeds. A Sicilian heirloom.

Beatrice- 62 days. Beautifully round Italian eggplants that produce early, compact fruit.

NEW Goose Egg- 60 days. “This old

(heirloom) European variety produces an abundance of tender bright white fruits, each the size of a large chicken egg. The flavor is rich and never bitter since its skin doesn't produce the bitterness often found in purple varieties.” - Fruition Seeds

Heirloom seeds are seen as untainted seeds dating back 150 years and older. For a more in-depth explanation, read here. Heirloom vegetables usually have unique colors, shapes and flavor. We share the stories of heirlooms so you can keep the tradition of seed saving alive. Read here for a more in-depth explanation.

Heirloom Slicer Tomatoes

Kellog’s Breakfast- 85 days, indeterminate, orange heirloom slicer. A railroad supervisor named Darrell Kellogg preserved and passed down the seeds from this gorgeous yellow orange

Beginning in early April, we

know you are ready to get

growing. Gorgeous flats of

organic cold season seedlings

such as cabbages, kales, broccoli,

Brussels sprouts, cauliflower,

spinach, many types of lettuce

and more will be available for

those of you who are ready for

some fresh, homegrown food

(like us!).

Indeterminate: These plants typically get rather tall, large and vining. They require staking and they’re great producers. Determinate: Compact varieties that stay close to the ground and are better suited for small spaces and containers. 5-5.5’ max. Dwarf: New to Natureworks, our dwarf varieties reach 2.5’- 3’. They can grow in 3-5 gallon containers, but like all tomatoes, thrive with quality soil and will still benefit from trellising for the most breathing room and exposure to sunlight. We’re very excited to provide this option for tasty, homegrown patio projects.

Hot Crops

Arriving in mid-May, hot crops

require both warm soil and high

temperatures (with a little cooling

at night) to grow steadily and

produce crops. They include

traditional summer crops such as

snap beans, corn, cucumbers,

melons, peppers, tomatoes,

eggplant and squash.

Why Heirloom?

Simple Tomato

Terms

518 Forest Road (Rte. 22) Northford, CT 06472 ph: 203-484-2748 fax: 203-484-7621 www.naturework.com 3

tomato with excellent yields and mild flavor. Beefsteak - 75 days, indeterminate large red slicer. Yes, this is the steak of the tomatoes. Juicy and red, it is packed with flavor and noted as one of the largest slicers in the beefsteak family. Lovingly tended plants can yield fruits that weigh more than a pound. Black Krim- 80 Days, indeterminate, purple/red slicer. Passed on from sailors stationed on the Isle of Krim in the Black Sea, this violet colored, beefsteak-type tomato is juicy and so amazing in flavor, it can be devoured plain with a dash of salt. Brandywine- 80-90 days, indeterminate, large, classic pink/red slicer. Indeterminate. A potato-leafed variety with pink fruit, Brandywine originated in the 1800s and is praised as one of the best tasting slicers out there. Brandywine Yellow- 80-90 days, indeterminate, large, yellow slicer Brandywine. Adding bright visual interest and a tad of tartness to any dish, Brandywine Yellow has all the great flavor and heft of its Pink Sister. It has low acid and potato-leaf foliage. Pruden’s Purple -72 days, indeterminate, deep pink Brandywine type. With very few seeds, ridges similar to those seen on a cantaloupe, and an early ripening time for an heirloom slicer, Pruden’s purple rivals Brandywine for excellent flavor and smooth texture. Her origin is mysterious. Cherokee Purple - 75-90 days, indeterminate, purple/ red/brown. The best description of the look of this tomato is a deep dusky rose color or “a bad leg bruise”. The story behind this tomato is very special, brought to popularity by a home gardener who loved to save seeds. Read NPR’s story on the tomato here. It was heralded as one of the best tasting dark tomatoes and featured in the “Save the Flavors”

project to keep heirloom varieties in people’s gardens. Green Zebra- 75 days, indeterminate, green striped slicer. This variety is explained perfectly in its name. Tangy in flavor, it ripens to a beautiful, striped lime green fruit. They’re very prolific and well-loved by chefs. Its history as an heirloom is tricky, as it was really developed in the 1980s. Tom Wagner of Tater-Mater Seeds bred four separate heirloom varieties to create a gorgeous striped tomato that doesn’t crack. Voila! A zebra was born.

Mortgage Lifter- 80 Days, indeterminate pinkish-red slicer. Has one of the best heirloom stories around. With no experience whatsoever, Radiator Charlie spent four years in West Virginia cross breeding the best heirloom tomatoes in hopes of creating a giant, flavorful, strong tomato that could feed families. The result of his experiment was Radiator Charlie’s tomato, which people traveled far and wide to get. Selling them at $1 each, this tomato allowed him to pay off his mortgage and eventually became known as the Mortgage Lifter Tomato. Read the amazing story from the Grandson of this 2-4 pound tomato grower here.

Slicer Tomatoes

Celebrity- 70 days, determinate. Hybrid, disease resistant red slicer. Early Girl - 50-62 days, indeterminate. Start the tomato season early. Bright red medium size round fruit are flavorful and perfect for slicing.

Megabite -70 days, determinate. Produces unusually large fruit for a compact-sized plant. Bright-red fruits grow 4-6 ounces in size! This plant is ideal for growing in containers, raised beds or small garden spaces Jet Star- 72 days, indeterminate. Low Acid, crack resistant red slicer with high yields. Taxi- 64 days, determinate. Early, compact yellow slicer with smooth skin. Iron Lady- 75 days, indeterminate. Iron Lady is as tough as they come, a beautiful red slicer almost entirely resistant to early blight, late blight, septoria and more dreadful tomato diseases. Plant away from other tomatoes.

Cherry Tomatoes Black Cherry- 64 days, indeterminate. This truly black cherry tomato was bred in Florida. Pick loads of these perfectly round, dark fruits with rich, sweet, dynamic flavor from just one plant. Sungold- 55-65 days, indeterminate. Customer favorite, we often call it “candy of the garden” because of its delicious sweetness. Children love it! Super Sweet 100- 65 days, indeterminate. Long, arching vines with lots of red cherry tomatoes. Bred for disease resistance and ability to produce for long periods of time, see if you can get 100 tomatoes out of this one plant! Yellow Pear- 78 days, indeterminate. Heirloom, yellow pear-shaped cherry with mild flavor. Red Grape- 60 days, semi-determinate. Classic red grape tomato, perfect for snacking.

NEW Dancing with Smurfs- 60 days,

indeterminate. As if the name wasn’t enough, this deep, dark purple cherry tomato with bluish stems has great flavor and disease resistance. Harvest when tomato turns partially red.

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Honey Drop-62 days, indeterminate. One our favorite seed suppliers, Fruition describes as “if Sungold came in rainbow”. Enough said!

Paste Tomatoes

Amish Paste- 80 days, indeterminate. Roma-type tomatoes come from an Amish community in Wisconsin. Delicious red flesh is perfect for paste and canning. Also good for fresh eating on salads. San Marzano -80 days, indeterminate. The classic Italian paste tomato. The rich sweet flavor has been a favorite to generations.

NEW Carmella’s Hearts-Heirloom,

indeterminate. Nancy was given this seed by Paula Mooney of Paula’s Perennials in West Hartford. The seeds were given to her by her uncle who got them from an Italian friend who brought them over one tomato at a time from the Amalfi coast in Italy. They are a gorgeous, heart shaped roma-type heirloom paste tomatoes with excellent flavor.

Dwarf Tomatoes Bred for their small size and heirloom flavor! Perfect for patio vegetable projects. Look for our special patio section this season!

NEW Scarlet Heart- 80 days, dwarf.

Gorgeous, heavy bearing dwarf plant comes in heart-shape.

NEW Lucky Swirl- 75 days, dwarf.

‘Lucky Swirl’ is everything we love about German Stripe/Gold Medal tomatoes + Rose de Berne/Brandywine tomatoes, all in one seed packet. About 70% of the plants are laden with large slicers that are yellow on the top, orange in the middle & red on the bottom while 30% are large rose-red slicers. All have delightfully rich, fruit flavors and quintessential juiciness.” from Fruition seeds.

NEW Fred’s Tie Die- 65 days, dwarf.

8-ounce slicing pale red wine-colored tomatoes with green and silver stripes. Sweet n’ Neat Cherry Red/ Yellow- 48 days, dwarf. Both varieties (red and yellow) create a compact dwarf tomato plant that with strong branches only reaching 10-12”. Large early crop of small, sweet cherries.

Bell Peppers

Better Belle- 65 days. Perfect for patio pots and early harvest. Matures from green to deep orange.

Gourmet Orange- 75 days. A Swiss variety of pepper that matures to a gorgeous orange color, perfect for bright, gourmet dishes. King of the North- 55-75 days. Another early maturing variety. Pick while green or wait until they turn red

Sweet Chocolate-60-85 days. Early bell pepper. Ripens from green to chocolate on the outside and brick red inside. Thick sweet flesh. Great for gardeners in short-season areas. Sweet Sunrise- 65-85 days. Sturdy medium size plants produce blocky, dark green fruit that will mature to yellow/orange. Mini Bell- 60-80 days. Adorable red, gold and chocolate baby bells are a perfect for fresh snacking, stuffed for hors d’oeuvres or for pickling

NEW Bangles Blend Sweet- 60 days.

Good for containers, small, prolific, multi-colored baby bell peppers.

Frying Peppers Ancho- aka Poblano- 75-80 days. Medium heat pepper considered Mexico’s favorite chile pepper for allowing to ripen and dry red. Known as an ‘Ancho’; it is also used green, as a ‘Poblano’, for making chiles rellenos. Can reach 3-4’ tall. Natureworker favorite. Corno di Toro-75-85 days. Known as the “Horn of the Bull.” Very sweet, 8” long peppers are ideal for stuffing or frying. Jimmy Nardello-75 days. An heirloom frying pepper brought to Connecticut from Italy in 1887. Glossy red banana shaped fruit grow up to 10” long and offer a multi-dimensionally sweet and intense flavor. Serrano- 80 days. Extremely prolific pepper with a dash of heat, perfect for salsas.

NEW Habanada- 100 days. This

heatless habanero is the Natureworks new obsession. With all the delight of a citrusy chile pepper, this pepper has been served by itself on a plate by gourmet chefs. Featured in the centerfold of Food and Wine magazine, it is intended to be eaten whole- seeds, membrane and all. Benefits from very little fertilizer throughout the growing season. Low-maintenance deliciousness? Yes, please!

Hot and Realllly Hot Bhut Jolokia- 85-90 days. Also commonly named Ghost Pepper, 'Bhut Jolokia' is known for its extreme heat.

NEW Carolina Reaper- 100 days.

Clocking in at over 1 million Scoville Heat Units, 'Carolina Reaper' is the hottest pepper known. Habanero- 100 days. 40 times hotter than 'Early Jalapeno', it is one of the most potent pepper varieties, commonly used in Jamaican jerk seasonings.

518 Forest Road (Rte. 22) Northford, CT 06472 ph: 203-484-2748 fax: 203-484-7621 www.naturework.com 5

Early Jalapeno- 65- 85 days. Smaller sized jalapeno with a medium heat level, best planted early in the season for early harvest. Small plant is perfect for containers. Trinidad Scorpion – 90 days. Characterized by its bright red color and wrinkled, small bell shape. Second hottest pepper known.

Learn more about our growers and suppliers who make veggie gardening easy and extremely successful.

Seed Savers- This company is a true pioneer in maintaining biodiversity. They save and store thousands of seed varieties in their on-site underground vault. Each variety is partnered with a story of how this seed came to be. Join the seed saving revolution! Fruition Seeds- Based in Naples, New York, we have loved this small company for a long time. They focus on saving seeds for generations, as every organic, non-GMO seed packet details seed saving instructions. We have found a grower just so we can supply seedlings of their unique vegetable offerings. High Mowing Seeds- Providing an amazing variety of seeds from their 40-acre organic farm, High Mowing delivers extremely high quality seeds with the mission to maintain re-building essential food systems. Botanical Interests- With a mission to reconnect people to the “lost art” of passing down seeds, Botanical Interests creates beautifully hand-drawn photos of plants with amazing growing tips. Renee’s- Their individually written packets offer beautiful watercolor portraits, with personally written descriptions, complete growing instructions, a quick-view planting chart, growing tips, harvesting information and cooking ideas. Inside you'll find superior quality seed – the top germinating, reliable seed lots usually reserved for specialty growers. Peace Tree Farms-Peace Tree Farm has become the model of innovation in the community of growers for investing in automation and sophisticated environmental controls in state-of-the-art greenhouses. In February 2009

Peace Tree Farm became one of the first greenhouse operations in the region to obtain organic certification. High Meadows Farm- As Vermont’s Oldest Farm, High Meadows has amazing, nutrient-dense soils that produce gorgeous, organic vegetable seedlings. WaterField Farms- Founded in 2002 on the old Musto Farm property in the town center of Bethany, Waterfield Farms is a family owned and operated business supplying retailers and landscapers in Connecticut and neighboring states with a large selection of annual, vegetable and perennial plants We know that Natureworks could not be Natureworks without our amazing suppliers who also provide the building blocks of a successful garden. Our soil, compost, fertilizer and Grow Bag suppliers are the best in the business. Organic Mechanics-Our Soil Supplier: The founder of Organic Mechanics Soil is 100% committed to quality, sustainable growing that ensures happy, healthy plants that also positively impact the environment. He runs a blog and extremely informative website on how to be good to the planet and grow amazing plants.

Coast of Maine- Our Compost (and amendment) Supplier: Taking advantage of otherwise discarded natural resources found in Maine, this company produces the best quality compost that is teeming with beneficial microbes that give your plants a nutrient-loaded boost. See our specialty line of amendments to give your plants their tailor-made recipe for success.

Where’s my squash plant?

This year, Natureworks is doing something bold and dangerous!

We’ve chosen to keep watermelon, cucumber, bean, summer squash,

zucchini, winter squash and pumpkin seedlings off our

benches. Why would we do such a dreadful thing? The simple answer

is: empowerment!

We want to empower you to grow these plants from seeds, ensuring

that you will have considerably less issues with diseases and

pests. These plants are so easy to grow from seed in the middle of

summer, we know you’ll be pleased with your success! Ask a

Natureworker for assistance, we’ve kept our seed selection fully

stocked just for you.

Natureworks Incredible Edibles 2017

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Smart Pots- Our Favorite Veggie Container Suppliers: This company has been rescuing plants from strangled roots since 1980. They’re breathable, sustainable, lightweight yet durable, naturally root pruning containers that make your vegetables thrive. All shapes and sizes for every type of plant.

North Country Organics- One of our Fertilizer Suppliers: This company has believed in chemical-free fertilizers that use ecologically minded, natural products since 1983. They are the real deal and deliver real results. NEW! Healthy Grow Fertilizer- Our new

Favorite Vegetable Fertilizer: Created

by a chicken farmer/school teacher,

Healthy Grow has figured out how to

turn waste into a sustainable source of

nutrients for vegetable plants. This

company has done countless amounts

of photo documented research on how

much this fertilizer benefits growing

plants. We’re so excited to carry them

this year!

Your vegetable garden will benefit by the addition of herbs. Herb plants can both discourage pests and attract beneficial insects such as ladybugs, bees and butterflies. Here are some general guidelines to get you started. Basil: Basil can benefit the flavors of tomatoes, asparagus, peppers and oregano. It should not be planted near common rue or sage. Borage: Borage acts as a deterrent to tomato hornworms and cabbage worms and is known to attract bees and wasps. Chamomile: This herb attracts hoverflies and wasps, which assist in pollination and prey on aphids and other pest insects. Chives: Chives will repel aphids from tomatoes, mums and sunflowers. Dill: This herb will keep aphids, spider mites and squash bugs from taking over your garden and will attract hoverflies, wasps, and honeybees. Rosemary: Rosemary benefits the growth of sage, cabbage, beans and carrots by deterring cabbage moths, and bean beetles. Sage: Repels cabbage moths, black flea beetles, carrot flies and some bean parasites. Sage grows well with rosemary, but do not plant it close to rue, cucumbers or onions. Tarragon: Acts as a pest deterrent and can help enhance the flavor and growth of nearby vegetables, especially eggplant. We stock certified organic herb plants from Peace Tree Farm, High Meadows Farm and Gilberties.

NATUREWORKS

CLASSES * WORKSHOPS *

Garden walks

Gardening education has always been

an important part of what we do at

Natureworks. Throughout the season

we offer classes, workshops and garden

walks that address many of the new

trends, scientific findings and organic

gardening practices. If you don’t already

receive it, sign up for our weekly email

at naturework.com to receive updates

on what we have on schedule at

Natureworks.

Grow Day

Saturday, March 25, 9am – 3pm

a fun and informative day of learning

with a focus on edibles

FEE: Pre-register by 3/21/17 - $35

Walk-in - $40

Class Location:

Zion Episcopal Church

326 Notch Hill Road

(Rte. 22)

North Branford

Saturday, April 1st

Overcoming your Fear of Pruning -

Basic Principles and Practices

10 am-noon FEE: $20

Class Location:

Natureworks

518 Forest Road (Rte. 22)

Northord

Fruit plants

We are major fruit lovers and

always have an assortment of

blueberries, raspberries,

blackberries, figs, elderberries

and more for a variety of

growing conditions (small and

large)! Most of the fruit plants

from our suppliers are

conventionally grown. Once

they come off the truck at

Natureworks they are cared for

organically.

Visit our benches to find the

perfect size and variety for your

garden this year.

HERB PLANTS